| Hiking Trail Conditions Report |
 | Peaks |
Mt. Monroe, Mt. Washington, Mt. Jefferson, NH |
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 | Trails: |
Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, Crawford Path, Monroe Loop, Gulfside, Jefferson Loop, Jewell Trail |
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 | Date of Hike: |
Friday, December 8, 2023 |
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 | Parking/Access Road Notes: |
Ammo lot fully plowed with restrooms, $5 cash. |
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 | Surface Conditions: |
Snow - Trace/Minimal Depth, Snow - Packed Powder/Loose Granular, Ice - Breakable Crust, Snow - Unpacked Powder, Snow/Ice - Frozen Granular, Snow - Drifts, Snow/Ice - Postholes |
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 | Recommended Equipment: |
Snowshoes, Skis |
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 | Water Crossing Notes: |
Nothing remotely challenging. |
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 | Trail Maintenance Notes: |
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 | Dog-Related Notes: |
One with a skier in tow. |
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 | Bugs: |
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 | Lost and Found: |
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 | Comments: |
Was expecting more of a crowd given the weather, but only 2 other cars in Ammo lot at 8am, and one of them belonged to 2 skiers who were leaving. Snowshoes from start to 1 mile from the end on Jewell, when I switched to bare boots. Ammo trail was nicely packed, probably could have done it with spikes but once above treeline there is enough deep spots that trying it without snowshoes would be foolish. Met a couple of gridders just below the hut...Beth was about to grid out Washington today and needs 18 more in December to finish...or wait a full year! Good luck!
Really didn't see ice all day. Monroe summit was cold and windy. There were no tracks heading across to Washington and a lot of windblown drifts. No wind and very comfortable when I got to Washington, met a couple of skiers who had come up the cog path and were getting ready to do laps in the snowfields. The out/back to Jefferson around Clay was very unconsolidated/variable, and there were no visible tracks up Jefferson. Was not sad that Tyler (I think) caught up to me at the start of the climb to Jefferson and broke the trail up/down (he was hauling). Followed Tyler's tracks for the short cut from Gulfside trail on Clay to the Jewell path, a lot of sliding in the loose snow. Jewell trail was very loose and not at all packed above treeline, definitely an adventure...I was very glad to get into the trees where the trail became nicely packed. Hiking down into the sunset on Jewell was very nice. Nobody had hiked the Jewell extension down to the Ammo lot so I hiked out to the Cog station just as the sun set, where Gridder Beth was just heading home and kind enough to give me a lift back to the Ammo lot. A fine Fall day in the Mountains. |
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 | Name: |
Borealis |
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 | E-Mail: |
kdwelch1@gmail.com |
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| Date Submitted: |
2023-12-08 |
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 | Link: |
 https://www.strava.com/activities/10350314121 |
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Disclaimer: Reports are not verified - conditions may vary. Use at own risk. Always be prepared when hiking. Observe all signs. Trail conditions reports are not substitutes for weather reports or common sense. |
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